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When Vic Darchinyan lost to Nonito Donaire... most of his supporters and even haters were SHOCKED. To say the least. Here was a guy with an extensive AM background, hadn't ever touched the canvas (pro or otherwise) getting DESTROYED by a single punch against a then unknown.
To say the least, Vic's career seemed to have taken a major blow. He was on top of the world, nearing or in his prime and was undefeated. A night like that takes it's toll.
That's where the Barrera/Hamed theory comes into play. Marco Antonio Barrera was once touted as the savior to Mexican boxing. Early in his career, he went 43 fights undefeated, with 32 being stopped early before he faced his first loss. Junior Jones. That fight is the fight that changed Marco forever. He got his ass handed to him and he knew it.
He knew he had to change his style. Had to make adjustments. Had to radically rethink his approach in fights before it was too late. Even in a losing effort to Jones in the rematch, Marco looked significantly better then in the first outing.
'Prince' Naseem Hamed. Outside of Lennox Lewis, probably the most accepted fighter from the U.K. on American soil. he had an exciting style, would get hurt and hurt you back and enough charisma to give John Ruiz and Cory Spinks some personality and still be the biggest mouth in the room. His career took him to incredible undefeated status with 35 victories, with 31 stoppages.
Then came Barrera. Barrera had listened to himself. Knew he had to make changes and knew he was willing to do it in order to have a much more successful career. This revelation came shining threw in him fight with the 'Prince.' He knocked Naseem Hamed around for 12 entertaining rounds and handed him his first defeat.
Hamed, knew he had to make changes. Knew he had to adjust. Train better, fight smarter. Work on his defense. What did he do, however? Fought once more and decided to walk away. Not willing to put that extra step into it, he virtually retired after a relatively mild 12 round unanimous decision victory over Manuel Calvo, willing a minor ABC bet in the process.
Barrera, on the other hand went on to avenge a loss to the great Erik Morales, twice. Had victories over Kevin Kelley (4TKO), Johnny Tapia (12UD), Robbie Peden (12UD), Rocky Juarez (12SD, 12UD) and is currently readying to face hot prospect Amir Khan in a HUGE fight over in the U.K.
If he gets passed Khan, one assumes he's eager to face Nate Campbell, in hopes of being the first ever Mexican-born fighter with title sin four different weight divisions.
This is not to sell Naseem short. Exciting fighter, great personality for boxing. But it's to show you how certain fighters can take their first defeat, a surprising a humiliating one at that in totally different ways. Barrera used his as a learning experience and rebooted while Hamed took his and let it control his brain. Let it slow him down, it took his confidence away in that regard.
Vic Darchinyan, wehen he literally kissed that mat, didn't know it then but he had a choice. He could come back and pull a Barrera or not come back and go out like Hamed.
Now, he moved up in weight. Had a 'draw with Z Gorres then many report should have been a win. Followed that up by destroying Dimitri Kirilov and capturing another title in a different division. Unified with pound for pound fighter, the ever-so-slick Cristian Mijares, by bashing him from pillar to post before KOing him. Meanwhile, he's gearing up to face the always-ruggid Jorge Arce.
Win or lose, he's at least made the attempt to go for the Barrera side of this equation. Good for him.
Best of luck on Sunday Darchinyan, well done.
SIDE NOTE: Strange how boxing works. Donaire, having beat Vic, is probably lower in the rankings then Darchinyan. Vic has had more succes after their fight, and fought the better overall opposition since then. That's the difference between a decently promoted fighter and really well promoted fighter.
Vote. Discuss.
To say the least, Vic's career seemed to have taken a major blow. He was on top of the world, nearing or in his prime and was undefeated. A night like that takes it's toll.
That's where the Barrera/Hamed theory comes into play. Marco Antonio Barrera was once touted as the savior to Mexican boxing. Early in his career, he went 43 fights undefeated, with 32 being stopped early before he faced his first loss. Junior Jones. That fight is the fight that changed Marco forever. He got his ass handed to him and he knew it.
He knew he had to change his style. Had to make adjustments. Had to radically rethink his approach in fights before it was too late. Even in a losing effort to Jones in the rematch, Marco looked significantly better then in the first outing.
'Prince' Naseem Hamed. Outside of Lennox Lewis, probably the most accepted fighter from the U.K. on American soil. he had an exciting style, would get hurt and hurt you back and enough charisma to give John Ruiz and Cory Spinks some personality and still be the biggest mouth in the room. His career took him to incredible undefeated status with 35 victories, with 31 stoppages.
Then came Barrera. Barrera had listened to himself. Knew he had to make changes and knew he was willing to do it in order to have a much more successful career. This revelation came shining threw in him fight with the 'Prince.' He knocked Naseem Hamed around for 12 entertaining rounds and handed him his first defeat.
Hamed, knew he had to make changes. Knew he had to adjust. Train better, fight smarter. Work on his defense. What did he do, however? Fought once more and decided to walk away. Not willing to put that extra step into it, he virtually retired after a relatively mild 12 round unanimous decision victory over Manuel Calvo, willing a minor ABC bet in the process.
Barrera, on the other hand went on to avenge a loss to the great Erik Morales, twice. Had victories over Kevin Kelley (4TKO), Johnny Tapia (12UD), Robbie Peden (12UD), Rocky Juarez (12SD, 12UD) and is currently readying to face hot prospect Amir Khan in a HUGE fight over in the U.K.
If he gets passed Khan, one assumes he's eager to face Nate Campbell, in hopes of being the first ever Mexican-born fighter with title sin four different weight divisions.
This is not to sell Naseem short. Exciting fighter, great personality for boxing. But it's to show you how certain fighters can take their first defeat, a surprising a humiliating one at that in totally different ways. Barrera used his as a learning experience and rebooted while Hamed took his and let it control his brain. Let it slow him down, it took his confidence away in that regard.
Vic Darchinyan, wehen he literally kissed that mat, didn't know it then but he had a choice. He could come back and pull a Barrera or not come back and go out like Hamed.
Now, he moved up in weight. Had a 'draw with Z Gorres then many report should have been a win. Followed that up by destroying Dimitri Kirilov and capturing another title in a different division. Unified with pound for pound fighter, the ever-so-slick Cristian Mijares, by bashing him from pillar to post before KOing him. Meanwhile, he's gearing up to face the always-ruggid Jorge Arce.
Win or lose, he's at least made the attempt to go for the Barrera side of this equation. Good for him.
Best of luck on Sunday Darchinyan, well done.
SIDE NOTE: Strange how boxing works. Donaire, having beat Vic, is probably lower in the rankings then Darchinyan. Vic has had more succes after their fight, and fought the better overall opposition since then. That's the difference between a decently promoted fighter and really well promoted fighter.
Vote. Discuss.
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